growing herbs for teas

[JillStephens7]

Hello, I am determined to grow more herbs for making teas this year, partly to save money and partly cause it seems plain silly to be flying and driving stuff round the world packaged up in little bags and boxes.

I've been re-potting some lemon balm today and brought some in (to unheated kitchen windowsill )to hopefully speed the growth and have a spearmint doing ok on the windowsill though getting a bit floppy. Get bored just drinking these two so need to diversify if I'm going to stick to growing not buying.

Sages are just getting some leaves on again (maybe I will try bringing one of these in too to see if it speeds things up) and rosemaries and lavenders are starting to recover after the beatings of the frosts and am going to try teas from these this year though not sure they'll be my cup of tea .

Not sure what to add to the mix this year? I like white tea and a lot of the spicy yogi teas, not really stuff you can grow in Lancashire

[Carltonian Man]

Could try rosemary and fennel seed (I used to drink loads of it), maybe nettle too.

[greenorelse]

I was going to suggest nettle too! It's that time of year. Don't forget dandelions are useful plants too.

Yarrow grows anywhere and makes a decent brew. Spruce needle tea is said to be high in vitamin C.

Also, there are many different kinds of mints, all special in their own way.

Get a small piece of liquorice root; grate it to make and infusion with, it lasts a good while.

Something I'd love to grow and try as a tea is stevia.

A related tip: use a dedicated, decent-sized cafetiere (french press) for making your teas. Far easier than using a teapot and strainer.

[okra]

fennel leaf is delicious.

[niknik]

chamomile. chamomile with aniseed,
Thyne, with a little honey. lovely

[JillStephens7]

Of course nettle and dandelion! Two of my all time favourite teas what an airhead I am. Thanks for the reminder. I suppose I can just freeze some for later in the year, but not sure how well it would keep.

Not tried yarrow before in fact not even sure what yarrow looks like but will investigate, thanks for that.

Fennel tea yum yum, not tried growing it before though, looks exotic and tricky

THanks everone

[MKG]

Exotic and tricky fennel - we planted some years ago and never looked after it particularly. It grew. I'm still trying to get rid of it, but it insists on coming back up every year in the worst possible places. This is great if you like fennel. I'm not telling anyone if I do or not.

Mike

[JillStephens7]

Might give fennel a whirl if I can get myself organised then. Oh so many projects to try and far too many hours spent at work

I'm not telling anyone if I do or not. Mike

You never know who's listening eh Mike!

[Thomzo]

Nettles dry really easily. Just hang them up for a few days. Then they keep for ages.

Zoe

[Ophidianoir]

I grew Fenugreek a couple of years ago but did not leave it to seed as we used the leaves as an ingredient for Methi Chaman (Indian dish). Although most people use the seeds for tea I think that the leaves are brewed as a herbal tea in India. It is also a good green manure if you find you do not like the taste.

[Veggiesauraus]

Love this post!!! Thanks for all the ideas!!!

PS I still have dried nettles on my wall from last years crop! Still taste as good :) Not sure if they have any goodness in them?

:)

[becks77]

Never tried netle tea whats it taste like? :)

[JillStephens7]

Never tried netle tea whats it taste like? :)

umm, like nettles?! Sort of green and very fertile and a bit earthy?! Best I can do

Can't think of anything else that tastes like it.

Today is nettle gathering day for me

[Green Aura]

Never tried netle tea whats it taste like? :)

Honestly, it tastes like crap!

The good thing is a little goes a long way and mixing it with mint makes a very palatable brew.

[greenorelse]

Never tried netle tea whats it taste like? :)

Honestly, it tastes like crap!

The good thing is a little goes a long way and mixing it with mint makes a very palatable brew.

It's an acquired taste - I know people who love it. It's a little too earthy for me but the dried nettle tea you can buy in wholefood shops seems better; maybe it's mixed with something. It's a bit like liquorice tea bought in teabags - definitely tastes of liquorice and I like it - but what a difference when you grate your own liquorice root and make an infusion: gorgeous!